Trout Brook Station - Official Work Thread

[Josh Botting]

Does anyone know what is happening up at Trout Brook on 218?  There is a new driveway and a gravel pad beteen the ROW and 218???

[Allan Fisher]

The Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association, which owns the property on either side of our right of way, is putting in a parking lot for their new Carleton Brook Trail, which will cross our right of way and follow the Trout (Carleton ) Brook up to its source.

Although the trail will not be dedicated until October, there will be two organized walks down the Mountain from end of track and along Trout Brook during the Jointly sponsored SVCA/WW&F Septemberfest all day Sunday, September 28, with food free food and activities included in the Train ticket price.

[John Kokas]

How far from end of track is the planned conservation lot & trail-head?
Might be a great add-on for the museum to have a conservation connection and "guided" nature walks. (school trips  )

[Wayne Laepple]

If my memory serves me correctly, it's about 6,600 feet from the current end of track to Route 218. From Top of the Mountain to Route 218 is about 4,400 feet. The Trout Brook bridge location is about 500 feet from Route 218. Crossing the brook from the right-of-way is a bit difficult except when the stream is quite low. It's a beautiful walk down the mountain, though. It will be the scenic highlight of our line when the track reaches that area.

[John Kokas]

thanks for the info Wayne, had a hard time trying to get the distance right.  For the sake of discussion, would it possibly make sense to consider "breaking trail" with the conservation folks and actually clear the ROW (trail width only) so that the RR could connect with the conservation area.  This might make for some good relations, PR, and also some potential business. what's everyone's thoughts?

[Allan Fisher]

Trout Brook Bridge location is about 1200 feet south of Rt 218 crossing - and we have cleared a 50 foot right of way in the last few years between Rt 218 and the bridge crossing location. We will be brushcutting the right of way in that area again in the next couple of weeks, in preparation for the joint SVCA/WW&F Septemberfest event at Alna Center on Sunday , September 28th from 10am to 4pm. Come join us. The price of a WW&F ticket will include food, children's activities, exhibits from local farmers and businesses,and two escorted walks down the mountain and along the new Carleton (Trout) Brook Conservation Trail. Trains run on the hour.

[Pete "Cosmo" Barrington]

I so wish I could make i, but I'll most likely be under water then. 

I made the hike down here in April this year,... it's gorgeous!
I wondered about the patch of land/sand to the right (east?) of the bridge location on the north (unreachable to us) side of the stream.
It looks like it'd make for a good swimming hole rec/picnic area! Only thing is, anthing put down there, ie: picnic tables, etc, would need to be hauled back up at the end of summer so the springtime floods don't wash it all away.

[Stephen Hussar]

Just curious about the location of a future railroad station at Rt 218. How much museum-owned property is there, and is there enough room for a septic system?

[James Patten]

We own only the 66-foot wide right-of-way, and the Midcoast Conservancy owns the property on either side.  We'll be building some sort of building, probably small.  Any septic would be a port-a-potty, and given the location to service it, it would have be on MC's property and probably rented by MC.

[Mike Fox]

Station location will be on the rough location of the former section house. Design is not yet settled. Will be a tough spot for facilities, as there is no access by road to maintain said facility.

[Philip Marshall]

This is starting to remind me (in a good way) of the halts/flagstops on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland in the UK that serve hikers and dog walkers.

[Bill Baskerville]

In the for what it is worth department, where the Appalachian Trail crosses NY Rt 22 and the Harlem Train line there is a Metro-North Railroad station that serves campers and hikers destined to/from the Appalachian Trail or New York City via the Harlem Line. It is the only rail station directly located on the Appalachian Trail.  The station has a low-level wooden side platform to the east of the track, long enough for one door of one car to receive and discharge passengers. The platform has no shelter, but has a bulletin board for posting the current train schedule, as well as information for hikers.  There is a small unpaved parking area large enough for a few cars.  The station appears to be about 10' or 12' by perhaps 16' to 20'.

[John Kokas]

I know on a prior discussion board (a long time ago), I suggested our BOD sit down with Mid-Coast and discuss a way to have a joint facility that would work as a station and a display/meeting area for the conservancy.  I would suggest a recreated Head Tide station that if, in the future, we can continue northward to Head Tide, the station building could then be moved to the original site.  Hey!  If we can move a bridge, a station is easy......

[Jason M Lamontagne]

As a members only discussion: the board has been in contact with Midcoast Conservancy.  We don’t want to announce any details on the subject until the talks are a little further along.

Thanks,
Jason

[John Kokas]

I am happy to hear that Jason.